ICC U-19 World Cup 2016: Rahul Dravid's boys defeat Sri Lanka by 97 runs to reach final

New Delhi: Ishan Kishan-led Indian U-19 cricket team defeated Sri Lanka in the semis to reach the final of the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2016.

 

Batting first, India lost wickets of in-form batsmen Rishabh Pant (14) and Ishan Kishan (7) with just 27 runs on board. The Lankans had to wait for their third breakthrough as Anmolpreet Singh (72) and Sarfaraz Khan (59) resurrected the innings with a formidable 96-run stand.

Even after losing Khan's wicket in the 31st over of the innings, Singh stitched another 70-run partnership with next batsman Washington Sundar (43). Armaan Jaffer's 16-ball 29 helped Rahul Dravid's boys reach a formidable total of 267 runs.

Asitha Fernando was the pick of the Lankan bowlers with a four-wicket haul while Lahiru Kumara and Thilan Nimesh shared two wickets apiece.

Defending a modest total, Avesh Khan got a breakthrough in the very first over when he trapped Avishka Fernando in front of the wickets off the sixth ball. None of the Sri Lankan batsmen could manage to score a half-century despite some efforts from Kamindu Mendis (39) and Shammu Ashan (38). The latter was looking set to play a big innings before being run-out in the 28th over.

Avesh Khan continued his good run in the series with two wickets while Mayank Dagar bagged a three-wicket haul.

In final, India will lock horns with the winner between West Indies vs Bangladesh match, which is the second semi-final.